A request for action: EU Blue Plan

The joint letter published last week was signed by 21 countries, including Croatia. The initiative was started by Portugal, as one of the countries that is particularly affected by water shortages and other disasters related to this common vital resource. The members demand from the European Commission a comprehensive approach that is in line with the Strategic Agenda, the Council's document on policy guidelines, approved on June 27.

The European Commission is being asked to strengthen water security, with the understanding that such a strategic and vital natural resource should be treated as a "top priority" in the upcoming EU agenda.

In the letter addressed to Commission Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, the 21 member states called on a holistic approach at EU level covering fresh and saltwater resources, protection of ecosystems, human consumption, agriculture and food systems, energy and industries.

“A systems approach is needed to ensure synergy and coherence across all legislative and planning processes, to better integrate water considerations and conservation objectives to ensure availability and security of water supplies,” states  the letter.

Blue Plan Declaration

The Declaration points out the following:

Given the essential nature of water and the current and future challenges facing the world and our continent, the EESC strongly believes that water can no longer be one of the elements of the Green Deal: a change of scale is needed at EU level. The EESC therefore calls on the European institutions to consider water as a priority and to adopt an EU Blue Deal as a standalone strategic policy, on an equal footing with the EU Green Deal.

The EU Blue Deal must be fully complementary to and in synergy with the EU Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It must be a comprehensive, coherent policy,
based on guiding principles and concrete actions as set out below.

It is about anticipating needs and preserving and adequately managing our common water resources in the short,
medium and long term for a water-resilient future. 

Europe can transform water-related challenges into new opportunities for technological development, societal progress,
new jobs, skills and business growth while respecting the environment.

Our Committee calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to take these principles and proposals into account and recognise water as a strategic priority in the 2028-2034 programming period and beyond, integrated into all EU policies.

It is time to join forces and find common solutions to the systemic water crisis.

Our collective action, supported by a strong and ambitious water strategy at European level, is the only guarantee for a sustainable and water resilient future.

The declaration then sets out the guiding principles of the EU Blue Plan as well as the actions that should be urgently implemented within the plan's framework.

We see the response of the Small Giants Water initiative as a response to one of the urgent actions of the plan, which reads the following:

Awareness-raising campaigns and specific actions to promote understanding of the value of water and change long-term behaviour must be launched in all Member States.

The entire text of the declaration can be accessed at the link:
https://www.eesc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/files/qe-04-23-852-en-n.pdf

Sources: 
https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/initiatives/eu-blue-deal
https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/07/17/water-resilience-cant-be-ignored-21-member-states-warn-eu-executive